Improvement in artificial flowers



MARY BARNES.

Artificial Flowers.

Patented Sept. 8, 1874'.

INVENTUK 1 VVITNEE SE 5. a, M. m/M Ja /6%. (M

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIOE.

MARY BARNES, OF TRUOKEE, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 154,781, dated September 8, 1874 application filed May 29, 1874.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MARY BARNES, of Truckee, Nevada county, State of California, have invented Improvements in Artificial Flowers; and I do hereby declare the following description and accompanying drawings are sufficient to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which it most nearly appertains to make and use my said invention or improvement, without further invention or experiment.

My invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of artificial flowers; and it consists, first, in the employment of worsted or woolen yarns of various colors, as amaterial from which to manufacture the flowers; and, secondly, to the mode or process of manipulating the yarns, in order to make the flowers.

To make artificial flowers out of yarn I take a piece of yarn of the desired color, and se cure a fine piece of wire to it near one of its ends by wrapping the middle of the wire around the yarn and drawing it tight. I then take a round stick of the desired size and wind the yarn closely around it, and weave the wire into each coil or wrap in a straight line along one side of the stick until the desired length of wound yarn is obtained. Various-colored pieces of yarn can be employed, in order to give any variety of effect. This wrapped and woven coil of yarns I then cut with a knife entirely through its length on the side of the stick opposite the Wire, thus forming a series of short yarnsof equal length secured at their middles to the wire. I then employ a coarse comb to comb out the yarns 1 upon each side of the wire which forms the central stem, and. gradually use a fine comb until the entire number of yarns are reduced to fine fibers of wool or other fiber, of which the yarns are composed. I then flatten the fibers in their proper direction, and place them between two layers of wet or damp cloth, and press them with a hot iron until they become perfectly flattened and smooth. The edges can then be trimmed to any desired shape to give them the form of leaves or flowers.

By this means I am able to manufacture artificial flowers of great beauty and finish, and give to them almost any color.

The fine fibers of the different-colored yarns will intermingle, and give fine effects of graduated colors.

The wire which is woven into the body, of the flowers can be left sufficiently long to provide a stem for them.

I usually employ an ordinary split clot-hespin as a stick to weave the circular body of the yarns upon, as it is just as convenient as could be desired; but a stick can be made especially for the purpose, if preferred.

In some instances it may be of advantage to dip the flowers into wax' or other solution before pressing them, for the purpose of giving the fineness; but usually the most beautiful eli'ectswill be produced by simply pressing the fiber.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim,'and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The process of making artificial flowers from yarns, substantially as above described.

2. As a new article of manufacture, artificial flowers, made of pieces of yarn loopedtoget-her, and having their ends cut and frayed out, as and in the manner hereinbefore described.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal.

MRS. MARY BARNES. [L s.] Witnesses:

F. WILBERT, A. M. WALKER. 

